Chicago, Illinois

Third Person POV

A young woman, Meredith, is walking home while listening to music on her iPod. A tall, burly man bumps into her. She gives him a disgusted look and continues to walk. Shortly after turning the corner, her iPod stops playing music. Meredith takes off her headphones.

"Great." Meredith says. A strong wind begins to blow around her. Garbage and leaves scatter everywhere. "Hello?" Meredith asks. Nobody answers. She tries to ignore the wind and keeps walking. As she nears her apartment, she looks over her shoulder and sees the shadow of a man on the wall of a building. The silhouette begins to follow her. Meredith breaks into a run. She dashes across the street and finally reaches her apartment. Frantically, she grabs her keys and rushes to find the right one. She finds the key and opens the door, then goes inside and slams it shut.


Inside – Apartment

Meredith bursts through the door and locks it behind her. She enters a code into the alarm system on the wall.

"System disarmed." the alarm system says. Meredith enters another code. "System armed." the alarm system says. She leaves the room and goes to the kitchen to get a beer after setting down her bag and keys. Meredith then moves to the living room and listens to the messages on her answering machine.

"Hey, Meredith. It's Kristen. You have to tell me what happened last night. Call me." Kristen leaves in a message. The beep sounds and another message begins to play. While Meredith listens to the message, the shadow begins to form on the wall of the apartment. It begins as a swirling cloud of smoke and morphs into the silhouette of a tall, skinny creature. The creature's shadow slowly moves towards Meredith's shadow on the wall. It sticks its long, sharp-nailed fingers through Meredith's chest. Meredith's blood splatters on the wall, and her shadow falls to the ground.


Outside – Apartment

One Week Later

May 29, 2006

Laila POV

Sam, Dean, Lore, and I stop the car and motorcycles across the street and get out, dressed as employees of the alarm system company. Dean gets a toolbox from the trunk of the car, and we proceed towards the apartment.

"All right, Dean. This is the place." Sam tells Dean.

"You know, I've gotta say Dad and I did just fine without these stupid costumes. I feel like a high school drama dork." Dean says. He smiles. "What was that play that you did? What was it – Our Town. Yeah, you were good, it was cute." Dean says.

"Look, you wanna pull this off or not?" Sam asks Dean.

"I'm just sayin', these outfits cost hard-earned money, okay?" Dean asks Sam

"Whose?" Sam asks Dean.

"Ours. You think credit card fraud is easy?" Dean asks.

"You could just ask Lore and I." I tell the guys.


Inside – Apartment

Sam, Dean, Lore, the landlady and I enter.

"Thanks for lettin' us look around." Sam tells the landlady.

"Well, the police said they were done with the place, so…" the landlady says. She, Lore and Sam move further into the room. Dean shuts the apartment door and he and I notice the chain on the door is broken. We follow Sam and Lorelai. In the living room, spots of blood cover the carpet. "You guys said you were with the alarm company?" the landlady asks.

"That's right." Dean says.

"Well, no offense, but your alarm's about as useful as boobs on a man." the landlady says. Dean and Sam exchange a look as Lore and I exchange a smirk.

"Well, that's why we're here. To see what went wrong and stop it from happening again." Dean tells the landlady.

"Now, ma'am, you found the body?" Sam asks the landlady.

"Yeah." she tells us.

"Right after it happened?" Sam asks her.

"No. Few days later. Meredith's work called—she hadn't shown up. I knocked on the door. That's when I noticed the smell." the landlady says.

"Any windows open? Any sign of break-in?" Dean asks her.

"No, windows were locked, front door was bolted. Chain was on the door, we had to cut it just to get in." she tells us.

"And the alarm was still on?" I ask.

"Like I said, bang-up job your company's doin'." She speaks.

"Mmhmm. You see any overturned furniture, broken glass, signs of struggle?" Dean asks the landlady. The landlady shakes her head.

"Everything was in perfect condition—except Meredith." she tells us.

"And what condition was Meredith in?" Lorelai asks.

"Meredith was all over. In pieces. The guy who killed her must have been some kind of a whack job. But I tell you, if I didn't know any better, I'd have said a wild animal did it." the landlady says. Dean looks at Sam, Sam looks at me, then I look at Lorelai.

"Ma'am, do you mind if we take some time? Give this place a once-over?" Sam asks the landlady.

"Oh, well, go right ahead. Knock yourself out." she says.


Later

Dean opens his toolbox and removes the EMF meter. "So, a killer walks in and out of the apartment—no weapons, no prints, nothin'." Dean says.

"I'm tellin' ya, the minute I found that article, I knew this was our kind of gig." Sam tells Dean. The EMF meter beeps frantically.

"I think I agree with you." Dean says.

''So, you talked to the cops?" Sam asks.

"Uh, yeah." De says. He smirks. "I spoke to Amy, a, uh, charming, perky officer of the law." De tells us.

"Yeah? What'd you find out?" Sam and I ask.

"Well, she's a Sagittarius. She loves tequila, I mean—wow. Oh, and she's got this little tattoo—" Dean starts to say dreamily.

"Dean!" Sam, Lorelai, and I yell.

"What? Yeah. Uh, nothin' we don't already know. Except for one thing they're keepin' out of the papers." Dean says and I raise my eyebrow.

"Hm?" Sam asks.

"Meredith's heart was missing." Dean says.

"Her heart?" Sam and I ask, stunned.

"Yeah. Her heart." Dean says.

"So, what do you think did it to her?" Sam asks Dean.

"Well, the landlady said it looked like an animal attack. Maybe it was—werewolf?" Dean and Lore ask.

"No, no werewolf, the lunar cycle's not right. Plus, if it was a creature, it would've left some kind of trace. It's probably a spirit." Sam and I say. Dean and Lore observe the blood on the carpet and seem to notice something.

"See if you can find any masking tape around." Lore and Dean ask.


Later

Dean and Lore use the masking tape to connect each pool of blood. When they are done, the pieces of tape form an unusual symbol.

"Ever see that symbol before?" Sam and I ask.

"Never." Dean and Lore say.

"Me neither." Sam and I speak. We all exchange a look.


Inside – Bar, Night

Lorelai POV

Dean is flirting with the attractive bartender. Sam and Laila enter and look around. Dean notices and takes one last drink, then smiles at the bartender and leaves.

"See ya." Dean tells the attractive bartender. At the other side of the room, Sam finds an empty table and sits down, taking out our father's journal. He leafs through the pages, and shortly, Dean sits down across from him. "I talked to the bartender." Dean tells Sam and Laila.

"Did you get anything? Besides her number?" Sam asks Dean.

"Sides' We don't need any more mini-Dean's running around." Laila tells Dean.

"Dude, I'm a professional. I'm offended that you would think that." Dean tells them. Sam and Laila give him a knowing look. "All right, yeah." Dean says. He chuckles and holds up a napkin with the bartender's phone number on it and I groan.

"You mind doin' a little bit of thinking with your upstairs brain, Dean?" Sam asks Dean.

"Huh? Look, there's nothing to find out. I mean, Meredith worked here, she waited tables, everyone here was her friend. Everybody said she was normal. She didn't do or say anything weird before she died, so—what about that symbol, you find anything?" Deano asks.

"Nope, nothing. It wasn't in Dad's journal or in any of the usual books. I just have to dig a little deeper, I guess." Sam tells Dean.

"Well, there was a first victim, right? Before Meredith?" Dean asks.

"Right. Yeah." Sam tells Dean and I. He pulls out a newspaper clipping concerning the first death. "His name was, uh—his name was Ben Swardstrom." Sam tells us. He hands the clipping to us. "Last month he was found mutilated in his town house. Same deal—the door was locked; the alarm was on." Sam and Laila say.

"Is there any connection between the two of them?" Dean asks Sam and Laila; Laila rolls her eyes.

"Not that I can tell—I mean, not yet at least. Ben was a banker; Meredith was a waitress. They never met, never knew anyone in common—they were practically from different worlds." Sam says.

"So, to recap, the only successful intel we've scored so far is the bartender's phone number." De says and I go to rip it out his hand. He smirks. Sam seems to notice something at the other side of the room. Dean, Laila, and I look around. "What?" we ask. Sam gets up and begins walking away. "Sam?" We say at varying volumes. Sam continues to walk away. He reaches another table, where a young woman with short blonde hair is seated with her back to him. He puts his hand on her shoulder, and she turns around. It is Meg.

"Meg." Sam says.

Laila and I tense up, sensing something evil.

"Sam!" Meg says. Sam looks at her curiously.


Bar

Sam is still with Meg at her table.

"Sam! Is that you? Oh, my God!" Meg says, Laila and I are still tense. She stands up and she and Sam hug. Sam looks slightly puzzled. They pull away a few seconds later. "What are you doing here?" Meg asks.

"I'm just in town, visiting friends." Sam tells her. Meg looks around.

"Where are they?" Meg asks.

"Well, they're not here right now, but what about you, Meg? I thought you were goin' to California." Sam asks her. Dean comes up behind Sam.

"Oh, I did. I came, I saw, I conquered. Oh, and I met what's-his-name, something Michael Murray at a bar." Meg tells Sam.

"Who?' Sam asks.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Anyway, the whole scene got old, so I'm living here for a while." Meg says. Dean clears his throat loudly, but he is ignored.

"You're from Chicago?" Sam asks.

"No, Massachusetts—Andover. Gosh, Sam, what are the odds we'd run into each other?" Meg says.

"Yeah, I know, I thought I'd never see you again." Sam says.

"Well, I'm glad you were wrong." Meg says. Sam nods. Dean clears his throat again, louder this time. "Dude, cover your mouth." Meg says, and even though she's evil, it was a little funny and made me snort.

"Yeah, um, I'm sorry, Meg. This is, uh—this is my brother, Dean. And on the left of him is my sister, Laila, and on the right, my sister Lorelai." Sam introduces us. Meg is surprised.

"This is Dean?" Meg asks. Dean smiles.

"Yeah." Sam says.

"So, you've heard of me?" Dean asks.

"Oh, yeah. I've heard of you. Nice—the way you treat your brother like luggage." Meg says. He looks confused.

"Sorry?" Dean asks.

"Why don't you let him do what he wants to do? Stop dragging him over God's green earth." Meg says.

"Meg, it's all right." Sam tells Meg, and I see red. The five of us look around quietly. Dean whistles lowly.

"Okay, awkward. I'm gonna get a drink now." Dean says. He gives Sam a puzzled look, then walks over to the bar and takes Laila with him, thinking she's the dangerous one.

"Sam, I'm sorry. It's just—the way you told me he treats you...if it were me, I'd kill him." Meg says to Sam.

"It's all right. He means well." Sam tells Meg. Meg nods.

"Well, we should hook up while you're in town." Meg says.

"Yeah." Sam says.

"I'll show you a hell of a time." Meg tells Sam.

"You know what, that sounds great. Why don't you, uh—why don't you give me your number?" Sam asks Meg. He takes out his cell phone and gets ready to input Meg's number.

"312-555-0143." Meg tells Sam.

"You know what, I never got your last name." Sam tells Meg.

"Masters." Meg tells Sam, while I want to gouge her eyes out.

'Masters?" Sam asks.

"So, you better call." Meg tells Sam.

"Scout's Honor." Sam tells Meg.

"I hope to see you around, Sam." Meg says. He smiles at her and walks away.


Outside – Bar

Sam POV

Dean and I are walking back to the car, Lore and Laila are in the bathroom right now, keeping another secret.

"Who the hell was she?" Dean asks me.

"I don't really know. I only met her once. Meeting up with her again? I don't know, man, it's weird." I tell Dean.

"And what was she saying? I treat you like luggage? What, were you bitchin' about me to some chick?" Dean asks me.

"Look, I'm sorry, Dean. It was when we had that huge fight when I was in that bus stop in Indiana. But that's not important, just listen—" I tell Dean.

"Well, is there any truth to what she's saying? I mean, am I keeping you against your will, Sam?" Dean asks me.

"No, of course not. Now, would you listen?" I ask Dean.

"What?" Dean asks me.

"I think there's somethin' strange going on here, Dean." I tell Dean, seeing the twins catching up with us, clutching brown bags in their hands.

"Yeah, tell me about it. She wasn't even that into me." Dean tells me.

"No, man, I mean like our kind of strange. Like, maybe even a lead." I tell Dean, glancing at the bags.

"Why do you say that?" Dean asks me.

"I met Meg weeks ago, literally on the side of the road. And now, I run into her in some random Chicago bar? I mean, the same bar where a waitress was slaughtered by something supernatural? You don't think that's a little weird?" I ask Dean and then at the same time, Dean and I take the bags from the twins' hands and glance inside to reveal... pregnancy tests. Positive pregnancy tests. The Singer boys are dead.

"I don't know, random coincidence. It happens." Dean says.

"Yeah, it happens, but not to us. Look, I could be wrong, I'm just sayin' that there's something about this girl that I can't quite put my finger on." I tell Dean. Dean smirks.

"Well, I bet you'd like to. I mean, maybe she's not a suspect, maybe you've got a thing for her, huh?" Dean asks me. I roll my eyes and laugh. "Maybe you're thinkin' a little too much with your upstairs brain, huh?" Dean asks. He points to his head and grins. I become serious again.

"Do me a favor. Check and see if there's really a Meg Masters from Andover, Massachusetts, and see if you can't dig anything up on that symbol on Meredith's floor." I ask.

"What are you gonna do?" Dean asks me.

"I'm gonna watch Meg. And call dad and Bobby and tell them about the current situation." I tell Dean.

"Yeah, you are." Dean says, laughing.

"I just wanna see what's what. Better safe than sorry." I tell Dean.

"All right, you little pervert." Dean tells me.

"Dude." I tell Dean.

"I'm goin', I'm goin'." Dean tells me. He crosses the street with Lore, and Laila and leaves me.


Motel Room

Dean POV

I am on the computer, researching Meg and the symbol. I pick up my cell phone and dials a number. Sam picks up.

"Hey." Sam tells me.

"Let me guess. You're lurkin' outside that poor girl's apartment, aren't you?" I tell Sam.

"No." Sam denies. I wait for another response. Sam rolls his eyes, I can tell. 'Yes." Sam finally fesses up.

"You've got a funny way of showin' your affection." I tell Sam.

"Did you find anything on her or what?" Sam asks me.

"Sorry, man, she checks out. There is a Meg Masters in the Andover phonebook. I even pulled up her high school photo. Now, look, why don't you go knock on her door and, uh, invite her to a poetry reading, or whatever it is you do, huh? While I keep an eye on our pregnant sisters?" I say.

"What about the symbol? Any luck?" Sam asks ignoring my comments.

"Yeah, that I did have some luck with." I tell him. I look down at my research. "It's, uh—turns out its Zoroastrian. Very, very old school, like two thousand years before Christ. It's a sigil for a Daeva." I tell Sam.

"What's a Daeva?" Sam asks me.

"It translates to "demon of darkness". Zoroastrian demons, and they're savage, animalistic, you know, nasty attitudes—kind of like, uh, demonic pit bulls." I tell him, meanwhile, Laila comes back from puking her guts out, only for Lore to take her place.

"How'd you figure that out? And what's that noise?" Sam asks.

"Give me some credit, man. You don't have a corner on paper chasin' around here." I tell Sam.

"Oh, yeah? Name the last book you read." Sam tells me.

"No, I called Dad's friend, Caleb. He told me, all right?" I say, defeated.


Sam POV

"Yeah." I say. I glance up at Meg's dark bedroom window.

"Anyway, here's the thing—these Daevas, they have to be summoned, conjured." Dean tells me.

"So, someone's controlling it?" I ask Dean.

"Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'. And, from what I gather, it's pretty risky business, too. These suckers tend to bite the hand that feeds them. And, uh, the arms, and torsos." Dean tells me.

"So, what do they look like?" I ask Deano.

"Well, nobody knows, but nobody's seen 'em for a couple of millennia. I mean, summoning a demon that ancient? Someone really knows their stuff. I think we've got a major player in town. Now, why don't you go give that girl a private strip-o-gram?" Dean tells me.

"Bite me." I tell Dean.


Dean POV

"No, bite her. Don't leave teeth marks, though—" I start to say. Sam hangs up on me. "Sam? Are you—?" I check to see if he really hung up. I hang up my own phone.


Sam POV

Back at the car, I glance back up at Meg's window. A few seconds later, a light turns on. Meg enters her bedroom, wearing a black lace bra. I look around uncomfortably, then continue to watch Meg. She puts on a T-shirt. I am interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I turn and see a woman standing outside the car, looking annoyed. She gestures to the window.)

"Oh, no, no, no, I'm just—" I start to say.

"Pervert." the woman tells me. She walks away angrily. I am stunned. A second later, Meg leaves her apartment, now wearing a sweatshirt and jacket as well. She walks across the street, briefly glancing at the parked car. Once she is gone, I, who had been hiding, sit up. I get out of the car and follows her.


Street

Meg stops at a graffiti-covered wall. She looks around before pulling open a door, which seems to be part of the wall. When she is inside, I peer out from behind a building. I also walk to the wall and enters through the camouflaged door.


Inside – Warehouse

I enter and walk up a flight of stairs. I reach a door at the top, which I attempt to open, but it is locked. I look around and see a broken-down elevator gate. I enter the gate and begin to climb the side of it, using different bars as footrests. When I reach the top, I am able to peer through the gate into a dimly lit room. There is a black altar in the middle of the room. I see Meg enter and walk over to the altar. I keep watching silently while hanging on to the bars of the gate. Meg reaches the altar and picks up a silver bowl filled with blood. She swirls her finger around in the liquid and speaks an incantation in an ancient language. She then begins to speak to someone I can't hear.

"I don't think you should come. (…) Because the brothers, they're in town, I didn't know that—(…) Yes, sir. (…) Yes, I'll be here waiting for you." Meg says. I look confused. Meg sets down the bowl and blows out the candles at the altar, then leaves the room. Once she is gone, I move to the wall, where there is a space through which I can crawl. I hoist myself up and climb into the room. I walk to the altar and observe it. I see several human hearts on the table, along with other ancient items. In the middle of the altar is the Zoroastrian symbol, drawn in blood.

"What the hell—?" I ask.


Motel Room

Lore POV

Sam enters and looks around for Dean. They see each other.

"Dude, I gotta talk to you." Dean and Sam say at the same time.


Later

Sam and Dean are talking.

"So, hot little Meg is summoning the Daeva?" Dean asks Sam.

"Looks like she was using that black altar to control the thing." Sam tells Dean.

"Not to mention she radiates evil." I say.

"So, Sammy's got a thing for the bad girl." Dean tells Sam. He chuckles. Sam rolls his eyes. "And what's the deal with that bowl again?" Dean asks Sam.

"She was talking into it. The way witches used to scry into crystal balls or animal entrails. She was communicating with someone." Sam tells Deano.

"With who? With the Daeva?" Dean asks.

"No, you said those things were savages. No, this was someone different. Someone who's giving her orders. Someone who's comin' to that warehouse." Sam tells De. Dean thinks for a moment and glances at some files on a nearby table. He sits down at the table and looks through them.

"Holy crap." Dean says.

"What?" Sam asks.

"What I was gonna tell you earlier—I pulled a favor with my –" Dean goes to say then he clears his throat – "friend, Amy, over at the police department. The complete records of the two victims—we missed something the first time." Dean says.

"What?" Sam asks. He comes over to look at the records.

"The first victim, the old man—he spent his whole life in Chicago, but he wasn't born here. Look where he was born." Dean tells us. He points to something on the page.

"Lawrence, Kansas." Sam says.

"Mmhmm." Dean says. He picks up the second file. "Meredith, second victim—turns out she was adopted. And guess where she's from." Dean says The paper reads "Lawrence, Kansas". Sam sits down across from Dean, clearly shocked.

"Holy crap." Sam says.

"Yeah." Deano says.

"I mean, it is where the demon killed Mom. That's where everything started. So, you think Meg's tied up with the demon?" Sam asks.

"I think it's a definite possibility." Dean says.

"But I don't understand. What's the significance of Lawrence? And how do these Daeva things fit in?" Sam asks.

"Beats me. But I say we trash that black altar, grab Meg, and have ourselves a friendly little interrogation." Dean tells us.

"No, we can't. We shouldn't tip her off. We've gotta stake out that warehouse. We've gotta see who, or what, is showin' up to meet her." Sam tells us.

"I'll tell you one thing. I don't think we should do this alone." Dean says.


Motel Room, Later

Dean is leaving a message on Dad's voicemail. While he is talking, Sam and Laila enter the room with bags full of weapons.

"We think we've got a serious lead on the thing that killed Mom. So, uh, this warehouse—it's 1435 West Erie. Dad, if you get this, get to Chicago as soon as you can." Dean tells Dad and hangs up.

"Voicemail?" Sam asks.

"Yeah." Dean says and he gestures to the bags. "Jeez, what'd you get?" Dean asks. Sam chuckles.

"I ransacked that trunk. Holy water, every weapon that I could think of, exorcism rituals from about a half dozen religions. I'm not sure what to expect, so I guess we should just expect everything." Sam says. Dean nods, and they begin loading their guns silently.

"Big night." Deano says.

"Yeah. You nervous?" Sam asks.

"No. Why, are you?" Dean asks Sam.

"No. No way." Sam says. They are silent for a few seconds. "God, could you imagine if we actually found that damn thing? That demon?" Sam says.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, all right?" Dean says.

"I know. I'm just sayin', what if we did? What if this whole thing was over tonight? Man, I'd sleep for a month. Go back to school—be a person again." Sam says.

"You wanna go back to school?" Dean asks.

"Yeah, once we're done huntin' the thing." Sam says.

"Huh." De says.

"Why, is there somethin' wrong with that?" Sam asks.

"No. No, it's, uh, great. Good for you." Dean says.

"I mean, what are you gonna do when it's all over?" Sam asks.

"It's never gonna be over. There's gonna be others. There's always gonna be somethin' to hunt." Dean says.

"But there's got to be somethin' that you want for yourself—" Sam starts to say.

"Sam, don't." I tell him as I hide all my weapons on my body.

"Yeah, I don't want you to leave the second this thing's over, Sam." Dean says. He walks over to the dresser.

"Dude, what's your problem?" Sam asks Dean. Dean is silent for a while, then turns back to Sam.

"Why do you think I drag you everywhere? Huh? I mean, why do you think I came and got you at Stanford in the first place?" Dean asks Sam.

"'Cause Dad was in trouble. 'Cause you wanted to find the thing that killed Mom." Sam tells Dean.

"Yes, that, but it's more than that, man." Dean tells Sam. He returns to the dresser and is silent again, then once more turns to Sam. "You, the twins and me and Dad—I mean, I want us…. I want us to be together again. I want us to be a family again." Dean says.

"Dean, we are a family. I'd do anything for you. But things will never be the way they were before." Sam tells Dean. Dean looks heartbroken.

"Could be." Dean says sadly.

"I don't want them to be. I'm not gonna live this life forever. Dean, when this is all over, you're gonna have to let me go my own way." Sam says. He and Dean share a look.

"So, are we going or not?" Laila and I ask. Dean and Sam share another look, apparently sharing the same thought as Laila and I are cuffed to our beds so we can't go anywhere, with salt protecting the windows and door.


Inside – Warehouse

Sam POV

Dean and I climb the elevator gate and reach the top room. Meg is standing at the altar, speaking in an ancient language. Quietly, Dean and I squeeze through the space between the gate and the wall. We draw our guns and move to the other side of the room, hiding behind some crates.

"Guys." Meg tells us. Dean and I look at each other, stunned. "Hiding's a little bit childish, don't you think?" Meg asks us.

"Well, that didn't work out like I planned." Dean tells me. Meg turns around to face us.

"Why don't you come out?" Meg asks us. Dean and I come out from behind the crates. "Sam, I have to say, this puts a real crimp in our relationship." Meg tells me.

"Yeah, tell me about it." I say.

"So, where's your little Daeva friend?" Dean asks Meg.

"Around. You know that shotgun's not gonna do much good." Meg tells us.

"Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. The shotgun's not for the demon." Dean tells Meg.

"So, who is it, Meg? Who's coming? Who are you waiting for?" I ask Meg.

"You." Meg tells us. The shadow demon begins to form on the wall. It knocks me to the ground and throws Dean into the crates. A claw-like scratch appears on my face.


Warehouse, Later

Dean and I are tied to two separate posts. I come to and see Meg sitting before me.

"Hey, Sam? Don't take this the wrong way, but your girlfriend...is a bitch." Dean tells me.

"This, the whole thing, was a trap. Running into you at the bar, following you here, hearin' what you had to say. It was all a set-up, wasn't it?" I ask Meg. Meg laughs. "And that the victims were from Lawrence?" I ask her.

"It doesn't mean anything. It was just to draw you in, that's all." Meg tells me.

"You killed those two people for nothin'." I say, angrily.

"Baby, I've killed a lot more for a lot less." Meg says.

"You trapped us. Good for you. It's Miller time." Dean tells Meg. He smiles. "But why don't you kill us already?" Dean asks Meg.

"Not very quick on the uptake, are we?" Meg asks Dean. She leans in closer. "This trap isn't for you." Meg tells us. Dean is puzzled. I think for a second, then realize something.

"Dad. It's a trap for Dad." I say. Dean looks at MEG, who smiles at him.

"Oh, sweetheart—you're dumber than you look. 'Cause even if Dad was in town, which he is not, he wouldn't walk into something like this. He's too good." Dean says.

'He is pretty good. I'll give you that." Meg tells us. She walks over to him and sits down, straddling his legs. "But you see, he has one weakness." Meg tells us.

"What's that?" Dean asks.

"You. He lets his guard down around his boys, lets his emotions cloud his judgment. I happen to know he is in town. And he'll come and try to save you. And then the Daevas will kill everybody—nice and slow and messy." Meg tells us.

"Well, I've got news for ya. It's gonna take a lot more than some…. shadow to kill him." Dean tells Meg.

"Oh, the Daevas are in the room here—they're invisible. Their shadows are just the only part you can see." Meg says.

"Why you doin' this, Meg? What kind of deal you got worked out here, huh? And with who?" I ask her.

"I'm doing this for the same reasons you do what you do—loyalty. Love. Like the love you had for Mommy—and Jess." Meg tells me.

"Go to hell." I tell her.

"Baby, I'm already there." She tells me. She smiles and slides over to me. "Come on, Sam. There's no need to be nasty." Meg tells me. She leans into whisper in his ear. "I think we both know how you really feel about me. You know, I saw you watching me—changing in my apartment. Turned you on, didn't it?" Meg asks me.

"Get a room, you two." Dean tells us.

"I didn't mind. I liked that you were watching me. Come on, Sammy. You and I can still have a little dirty fun." Meg tells me. She begins kissing my neck.

"You wanna have fun? Go ahead then. I'm a little tied up right now." I tell Meg. She smiles and continues to kiss me. A noise on Dean's side of the room makes her stop. She gets up and walks behind Dean's post. She sees he has a knife in his hand. She takes it away and tosses it into a corner. Meg swings around to the other side of the post, and smiles at Dean, who chuckles guiltily. She slides back over to me.

"Now, were you just trying to distract me while your brother cuts free?" Meg asks me.

"No. No. That's because I have a knife of my own." I tell her. Meg is confused. I break free from my ropes and grabs Meg's shoulders, then knock my head against hers. She falls to the floor while I groan in pain.

"Sam! Get the altar." Dean tells me. I walk over to the altar and overturn it. Suddenly, the shadow demon appears and grabs Meg. She is dragged across the floor and crashes through the window, falling down to the street below. I grab my knife and cut Dean free from his ropes. They walk over to the window and see Meg sprawled on the sidewalk, dead.

"So, I guess the Daevas didn't like being bossed around." I tell Dean.

"Yeah, I guess not. Hey, Sam?" Dean asks.

"Hm?" I ask.

"Next time you wanna get laid, find a girl that's not so buckets-o'-crazy, huh?" Dean asks. He smiles and walks away.


Inside – Motel, Hallway

Dean and I are walking back to our room.

"Why didn't you just leave that stuff in the car?" Dean asks me.

"I said it before, and I'll say it again—better safe than sorry." I tell Dean. Dean unlocks the door, and we enter the room. We see the outline of a man standing by the window, with the twins glaring at us.

"Hey!" Dean yells. I turn on the light. The man turns around. It is dad. Dean and I are stunned. "Dad?" we ask.

"Hey, boys." Dad says. Dean and Dad walk towards each other and share a long, emotional hug. I watch sadly. Dean and Dad pull apart a few seconds later. "Hi, Sam." Dad tells me.

"Hey, Dad." I say softly. Dad and I do not hug but look at each other. I place the bag full of weapons on the floor.

"Dad, it was a trap. I didn't know, I'm sorry." Dean tells Dad.

"It's all right. I thought it might've been." Dad tells us, I notice the twins' glares up a notch.

"Were you there?" Dean asks Dad.

"Yeah, I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive. She was the bad guy, right?" Dad asks us.

"Yes, sir." we say.

"Good. Well, it doesn't surprise me. It's tried to stop me before." Dad tells us.

"The demon has?" I ask dad.

"It knows I'm close. It knows I'm gonna kill it. Not just exorcise it or send it back to hell—actually kill it." Dad tells us.

"How?" Dean asks Dad. Dad smiles.

"I'm workin' on that." Dad tells us.

"Let us come with you. We'll help." I tell Dad. Dean gives me a warning look.

"No, Sam. Not yet. Just try to understand. This demon is a scary son of a bitch. I don't want you caught in a crossfire. I don't want you hurt." Dad tells m.

"Dad, you don't have to worry about us." I tell Dad.

"Of course, I do. I'm your father." Dad tells me. He pauses. "Listen, Sammy, last time we were together, we had one hell of a fight." Dad says.

"Yes, sir." I say.

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long time." Dad tells mee.

"Too long." I tell Dad. Dad and I embrace, crying. A minute later, we pull apart. The five of us look around tearfully. Suddenly, the shadow demon attacks Dad. He is thrown into a set of cabinets and falls to the ground. I also fall.

"No!" Dean shouts. He is thrown to the floor as well, along with Laila and Lore. Outside, Meg is watching the apartment. She looks at the building while holding a pendant around her neck, which features the Zoroastrian symbol.


Inside – Motel Room

Laila POV

Sam, Dean, Dad, Lore, Dad, and I are still being attacked by the shadow demon. We groan and scream in pain as we are flung around the room. Fresh scratches appear on our faces. Sam makes his way to the bag of weapons on the floor. He removes a flare from the bag.

"Shut your eyes! These things are shadow demons, so let's light 'em up!" Sam shouts. He lights the flare, and the room is instantly filled with smoke and a brilliant white light. The shadow demon vanishes. The five of us try to feel our way around the room, coughing and sputtering.

"Dad!" Dean, Lore, and I say.

"Over here!" Daddy says. Dean, Lore, and I make our way to Dad and help him up. Sam follows us out of the room, carrying the bag of weapons.


Outside – Motel

Sam, Dad, Dean, Lore, and I exit the building and walk down an alley to the car. Sam puts the bag in the backseat of the car.

"All right, come on. We don't have much time. As soon as the flare's out, they'll be back." Sam says.

"Wait, wait, wait! Sam, wait. Dad, you can't come with us." Dean says.

"What? What are you talkin' about?" Sam asks Dean.

"You boys—you're beat to hell. And with your sisters current conditions." Dad says.

"We'll be all right." Dean tells Dad.

"Dean, we should stick together. We'll go after those demons—" Sam starts to say.

"Sam! Listen to me! We almost got Dad killed in there, almost got the twins killed. Don't you understand? They're not gonna stop. They're gonna try again. They're gonna use us to get to him. I mean, Meg was right. Dad's vulnerable when he's with us. He—he's stronger without us around." Dean tells Sam.

"Dad-no." Sam tells Dad. He puts a hand on our father's shoulder. Dean watches sadly. "After everything- after all the time we spent lookin' for you—please. I gotta be a part of this fight." Sam tells Dad.

"Sammy, this fight is just starting. And we are all gonna have a part to play. For now, you've got to trust me, son." Dad tells Sam. Sam shakes his head no.) "Okay, you've gotta let me go." Dad tells us. All five of us are silent for a moment, close to tears. Finally, Sam looks at his hand on his dad's shoulder, and then pats his father's shoulder once, then let's go. Dad and Dean share a look, then Dad walks to his truck. Once there, he looks back at them one more time. "Be careful, boys. Girls, take time off." Dad tells us. He gets in his truck and drives away.

"Come on." Dean tells Sam. He and Sam get into the car and Lore I get on our bikes and watch as our father's truck turns the corner. Dean and Sam look at each other knowingly. Without a word, Dean starts the car. He backs into the street, then speeds down the road and around a corner. Meg comes onto the street from a flight of stairs. She turns and watches us leave.